2012 Kia Forte Review
2012 Kia Forte Review





+148
Used Forte for sale
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2012 Kia Forte appraisal values can range from $2,435 - $5,616.
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Wide variety of body styles
- affordable pricing
- long warranty
- excellent handling in SX trim.
Cons
- Tepid handling except for SX
- intrusive road noise
- lackluster interior
- rear seat short on legroom.
What’s new
For 2012, the Kia Forte lineup returns largely unchanged save for the midrange EX model, which gets a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. Revised gauges have also been added to the EX Technology package.
Edmunds says
The 2012 Kia Forte is a bit outclassed by newer competitors, but it still has a lot to offer in terms of value and style.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.76 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$154/mo
Forte EX
vs
$197/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
When the Kia Forte debuted a few years ago, we were pretty impressed with this new small car, finding it offered levels of style, engineering and overall quality that were on par with more well-known Japanese competitors. For the 2012 Kia Forte, the game has changed, as other manufacturers have rallied and made notable improvements. But overall the Forte still holds appeal.
Of particular merit, the 2012 Forte is offered in coupe, sedan and four-door hatchback body styles, one of the few small cars to offer such a selection. If you're interested in something sporty, the Forte coupe (the "Koup") will likely satisfy thanks to its sharp styling and firmer suspension tuning. If it's practicality you desire, Kia's got you covered with the roomy Forte hatchback. The Forte has other positive qualities as well, including long warranty coverage, plenty of standard features and high fuel economy when equipped with the optional Fuel Economy package.
That said, we consider some newer small cars to be more appealing overall. The Hyundai Elantra, for instance, has a nicer interior and better fuel economy no matter how you equip the car. The new Ford Focus is another well-regarded choice, as are the revitalized Mazda 3 and Volkswagen Golf hatchback. But if you're looking for something sporty, practical or just high on value, the 2012 Kia Forte is worth a look.
Performance & mpg
The 2012 Kia Forte LX and EX are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 156 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque. The sportier SX gets a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that puts out 173 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on LX models and the Koup, while EX and SX models come equipped with a six-speed automatic that's also offered as an option on the LX. In Edmunds performance testing, an SX hatchback with an automatic went from zero to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds, which is on par with similarly powered cars. The Koup is a bit quicker. With the manual it hits 60 in 7.6 seconds.
The EPA fuel economy estimates for the LX and EX with the manual transmission are 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined. Those numbers edge up to a respectable 26/36/29 with the automatic. Opting for the EX Fuel Economy package ups those numbers to 27/37/30. The more powerful Forte SX isn't too shabby either, with EPA estimates of 22/32/26 with the manual and 23/32/26 with the automatic. The two-door Koup returns estimates within 1 or 2 mpg (some higher, some lower) of the sedan and four-door hatchback numbers noted above.
Safety
The 2012 Kia Forte's list of standard safety equipment includes antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags that cover both rows of seats, and active front head restraints. In Edmunds brake testing, a Forte Koup SX came to a stop from 60 mph in an excellent 118 feet. An SX hatchback stopped in a still above-average 122 feet.
In government crash tests, the Kia Forte earned four stars (out of a possible five) in overall safety, with four stars for overall frontal-impact safety and four stars for overall side-impact safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Forte sedan the top score of "Good" in that agency's frontal-offset, side-impact and roof strength tests.
Driving
When it comes to the fun-to-drive factor, the 2012 Kia Forte is a mixed bag. The softer suspension underpinning LX and EX models allows for a little too much body roll in spirited driving, and the relatively numb steering feel doesn't help matters any. Both are perfectly passable in everyday motoring, although folks who put a premium on solid handling will want the firmer sport-tuned suspension that's standard on SX models. With it, these are legitimately fun little cars.
Ride comfort is generally good either way you go. Similarly, the smaller engine under the hood of LX and EX models will suit most folks just fine, but the larger 2.4-liter engine powering SX models feels noticeably stronger. We highly recommend the automatic transmission, as the manual is both unpleasant and difficult to use.
Interior
The Kia Forte's interior is a fairly comfortable place, with good room up front and backseats with legroom that, while not great, is about par for the category. One notable exception is the coupe's rear seat, which is a tight squeeze by anyone's standards. The quality of the interior is certainly acceptable, but it's a noticeable step down from what you'll find in a Focus, Elantra or Volkswagen Golf. Some Forte test cars we've sampled have also suffered from haphazard construction.
Both the coupe and sedan have a good amount of cargo room, with 12.6 cubic feet and 14.7 cubic feet, respectively. The hatchback version is even better, with 19.4 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats that expands to 44.2 cubic feet with those seatbacks folded down to make a flat load floor.
2012 Kia Forte models
The 2012 Kia Forte is available in sedan, four-door hatchback and coupe (or "Koup" in Kia-speak) body styles. The sedan is offered in three trim levels including the entry-level LX, midrange EX and sporty SX trim levels, while the hatchback and coupe are available in EX and SX trims only.
Standard equipment on the LX base model includes 15-inch steel wheels, a six-way-adjustable driver seat, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat, a tilt steering column, Bluetooth and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, a USB/iPod interface and an auxiliary audio jack.
Step up to one of the EX models and you get keyless entry, air-conditioning, cruise control, a trip computer, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, illuminated vanity mirrors, full power accessories and a six-speaker sound system. The EX coupe adds 16-inch alloy wheels, firmer suspension tuning, front sport seats and a more robust exhaust note.
The SX comes equipped with a more powerful 2.4-liter engine, a sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, unique cloth upholstery and metallic interior trim, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The SX coupe also gets 17-inch alloy wheels, a sportier version of the SX sedan's suspension, and illuminated red speaker surrounds that can blink in time to the beat.
Options on LX models are limited to air-conditioning. The EX has a longer list of available extras, including 16-inch alloy wheels (sedan only) and a sunroof. A Fuel Economy package for the EX sedan and hatchback adds electric power steering, low-rolling-resistance tires and aerodynamic enhancements. SX options include a sunroof and leather upholstery with heated front seats. A Technology package that bundles keyless ignition/entry, automatic climate control, a navigation system and chrome exterior door handles is also available on the EX and SX.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2012 Kia Forte.
5 star(50%)
4 star(28%)
3 star(8%)
2 star(3%)
1 star(11%)
36 reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Best car I've ever owned!
Lou,10/14/2015
EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
I bought my 2012 Forte brand new. It's still going at 217k miles. I had to replace the pulleys which were loud and going bad at about 120k. I also replaced the steering bar and bushings because they had worn out. Other than that, this car has given me absolutely no problems. I have maintained it and its runs great and looks good. I plan on driving this car until the wheels fall … off. So far it looks like that's going to be for a really long time. Love this car!
4.88 out of 5 stars
Great value at a very good price!
bd21,02/25/2012
EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
The Kia Forte is a well engineered vehicle that I believe is best in class for the price.
I paid $17,713.00 out the door for a EX 5-door in Titanium with stone interior.
My car was equipped with auto-dimming mirror w/compass, wheel locks, rear bumper applique, cargo net, cargo tray, spashguards and an i-pod cable.
I had no trade-in and the price included 6% sales tax and all dealer … fees.
I did get $2,000.00 in rebates.
This car is fun to drive around town and on the interstate.
I'm very impressed with the design, quality and functionality of this car.
I don't think you will find a better car under $21K.
4 out of 5 stars
Great car for the money!
Dave,10/14/2015
EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
I have had no major complaints about this car. Nothing outstanding, but it is a high quality, problem free compact car. The engine is peppy and acceleration is surprising for this car. The only issue I have is the remote start feature. It doesn't function properly all of the time. I haven't taken it in for that problem since it is out of warranty and I don't use the feature often. … The dashboard and controls are very simple and easy to use. There are no annoying design features.
4 out of 5 stars
Great Compact Car!
Alan Sloan,01/26/2016
EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
Keep in mind this is a compact car. You are not going to get ride/room or power of a mid-size car. We purchased our Forte 5 door new on 6/2012 and have 50,000 miles on it.
THE GOOD - a/c, engine power, drives nicely, cup holders and storage room, big back seat (5 door), blue tooth, only one repair - the key would not unlock the driver's door but the remote has always worked. Also a … great warranty - 10 yr/100,000 mi
We live in Texas and the a/c can handle the hottest days. I am 6'3" and I have room in the back seat.
THE BAD - No Water Temperature gauge (has light), head rests are very uncomfortable, and the fuel mileage.
If I use the cruise control I get poor fuel mileage. If I drive into a head wind I get poor fuel mileage. Keeping the speed at 70 mph or less with a tail wind and accelerating down hill and backing off going uphill I have gotten 35 mpg as advertised or better several times.
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
4 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall4 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger3 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall4 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall4 / 5Driver3 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat3 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover10.3%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Side Impact TestGood
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
- IIHS Small Overlap Front TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front TestGood
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More about the 2012 Kia Forte
Used 2012 Kia Forte Overview
The Used 2012 Kia Forte is offered in the following submodels: Forte Hatchback, Forte Koup, Forte Sedan, Forte Coupe. Available styles include EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A), EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A), Koup SX 2dr Coupe (2.4L 4cyl 6A), Koup EX 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6A), SX 4dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 6A), SX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A), Koup SX 2dr Coupe (2.4L 4cyl 6M), Koup EX 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6M), LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6M), and LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A). Pre-owned Kia Forte models are available with a 2.0 L-liter gas engine or a 2.4 L-liter gas engine, with output up to 173 hp, depending on engine type. The Used 2012 Kia Forte comes with front wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 6-speed shiftable automatic. The Used 2012 Kia Forte comes with a 5 yr./ 60000 mi. basic warranty, a 5 yr./ 60000 mi. roadside warranty, and a 10 yr./ 100000 mi. powertrain warranty.
What's a good price on a Used 2012 Kia Forte?
Price comparisons for Used 2012 Kia Forte trim styles:
- The Used 2012 Kia Forte EX is priced between $13,998 and$17,998 with odometer readings between 14147 and117581 miles.
- The Used 2012 Kia Forte Koup EX is priced between $12,990 and$12,990 with odometer readings between 75548 and75548 miles.
- The Used 2012 Kia Forte LX is priced between $15,998 and$15,998 with odometer readings between 76636 and76636 miles.
Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.
Which used 2012 Kia Fortes are available in my area?
Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2012 Kia Forte for sale near. There are currently 5 used and CPO 2012 Fortes listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as $12,990 and mileage as low as 14147 miles. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the AutoCheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 2012 Kia Forte.
Can't find a used 2012 Kia Fortes you want in your area? Consider a broader search.
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Should I lease or buy a 2012 Kia Forte?
Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.
Check out Kia lease specials
Check out Kia Forte lease specials
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